Wiltshire Police seize 100kg of cannabis in month-long operation
The force has been part of the South West's Operation Scorpion
People involved in trading illegal drugs and weapons across Wiltshire are being warned they'll be "caught and locked-up".
Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson has spoken-out, following a major drugs operation across our region.
It's been revealed today (Thursday 6th July) that £6.8 million worth of cannabis has been seized - and 67 arrests made - as part of the recent Operation Scorpion.
That's a joint drugs crackdown, carried out by police forces across the South West - including here in Wiltshire.
In our county alone, nine warrants were carried out, with 692 cannabis plants seized, 18 arrests made, five people charged and eight released under investigation.
Wiltshire Police DCI Angela Shipp, the Force lead for the latest phase of the drugs operation, said:
“People need to understand that, as this operation shows, cannabis cultivation is not a harmless or low-level offence.
“We know that it is a key source of illicit income for organised crime groups often involved in other serious and organised crime, including class A drug importation and supply, exploitation of vulnerable people through modern slavery, and serious violence as they compete for territory.
“The cannabis grows are also often set up in ways that are significant fire risks, potentially causing serious harm to neighbouring people and properties.
“Information from our communities is vital for us to tackle illegal drug gangs and identify vulnerable and exploited people."
Excluding the Met Police in London, Wiltshire Police has the 2nd highest drug disruption rate of all police forces across the UK, over the last two years.
Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said:
“Every successful drug warrant carried out by Wiltshire Police, and across the south west region, is a step in the right direction and reinforces our collective focus on a zero tolerance approach to drug cultivation, drug dealing and abuse - not to mention tackling those high-harm crimes associated with drugs including modern slavery and human trafficking.
“Drug-related crime isn’t just a problem for urban police forces. Tackling drug crime and serious violence, requires collaborative working with a whole series of local government and non-government stakeholders and partners. Under the Serious Violence Duty, Police and Crime Commissioners have been tasked to pull together those relevant services to share information and ensure collaboration to target the causes, symptoms and consequences of drug abuse and the drug trade in order to prevent and reduce serious violence within our communities.
“Tackling crimes that matter to our communities and reducing violence and serious harm are clear priorities within my police and crime plan and for Wiltshire Police. This intensification work has, and will continue to, directly contribute towards Making Wiltshire Safer - and making the whole of the south west a hostile environment for drugs.”
How to spot a cannabis factory
Wiltshire Police say there are things we can look out for that might indicate a cannabis grow nearby:
- Frequent visitors to a property at unsocial hours throughout the day and night
- Blacked out windows or condensation on the windows, even when it is not cold outside
- Bright lights in rooms throughout the night
- Electricity meters being tampered with/altered and new cabling, sometimes leading to street lighting. High electricity bills could also be an indicator
- A powerful, distinctive, sweet, sickly aroma and noise from fans
- Lots of work or deliveries of equipment to an address, particularly those associated with growing plants indoors without soil such as heaters and lighting
- An excessive amount of plant pots, chemicals, fertilisers, and compost
If you suspect drug activity in your area, you're asked to call 101, or 999 if it's an emergency.
You can also call Crimestoppers if you'd like to leave details anonymously on 0800 555 111.